LOSTOCK residents fear Brunner Mond's plans for an incinerator in the village could be sneaked in through the back door.

While Brunner Mond has submitted outline plans for an urban village in Winnington, the company has not taken further steps with its scheme for an energy-from-waste plant in Lostock.

But residents are now worried that could change.

But Olwyn Dean, chairman of the residents' association in Lostock, said: 'There will be plenty of objections to the village and there will be a lot in terms of the incinerator as well.

'It will be easier for them to fend off the criticism if they deal with it seperately from the urban village plan.'

Mrs Dean, who is also a member of Rudheath Parish Council, says the Lostock

Residents' Association is considering its arguments against the plant.

She added: 'The site for the plant is well in line with Government guidelines for such things and the only way to stop them is to come up with well founded arguments.

'Although I don't want to give too much away, we are now just basically making sure we have all our arguments ready for when the time comes.'

And Mrs Dean says the people of Lostock fear an incinerator, as well as the possibility of Winsford Salt Mine being used as a dumping ground for chemicals, will make Mid-cheshire an unhealthy place to live.

She said: 'With both of them together it is surely going to make a difference. Experts can say that an incinerator won't be dangerous but what effect will the incinerator in one place and toxic disposal in another have if you put them together.'

Mark Chitty, a spokesman for Brunner Mond said: 'We had three separate projects in mind when we started off. The plans for the village have got underway a lot quicker then the plans for energy from waste plant.

'The application will still go ahead but we cannot do anything until the county council has outlined its waste strategy.

'We put all of the plans on a website and we have had a lot of response.